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Detective Jeremiah MacKay honored after death

Memorial services in memory of slain San Bernardino County Detective Jeremiah MacKay were held last week in the cities of Yucaipa and San Bernardino.

MacKay,35, was allegedly the last person killed by Christopher Dorner during his standoff with police in the San Bernardino Mountains.

A candlelight vigil took place on Tues. Feb. 18 in the city of Yucaipa at the Sheriff’s station where MacKay worked for 15 years.

According to the San Bernardino Sun, around 300 people were in attendance to pay their respects to the fallen officer.

The candlelight vigil was proceeded by a public funeral that took place Thurs. Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. where thousands of people were in attendance.

The procession that took MacKay’s remains to the San Manuel Amphitheater left from Mountain View Mortuary on Highland Ave in San Bernardino.

At the beginning of the service, 103 bagpipe players performed on stage in front of thousands of law enforcement officers.

MacKay was also a bagpipe player who participated in funeral services for fallen law enforcement officials.

Among the speakers were San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon, MacKay’s best friend Deputy Roger Loftis and MacKay’s father, Alan MacKay.

Prior to the memorial services, California Highway Patrol sent out an advisory letting commuters know of the procession and to expect traffic delays between the hours of 8 a.m.-10 a.m.

San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon gave the eulogy, honoring the life of MacKay.

“We will never forget Jeremiah MacKay and the heroism he showed on Feb. 12, 2013,” said Loftis.

The tribute for MacKay displayed at the funeral included a video showing pictures of him with friends and family.

Sheep dogs that were in attendance at the funeral were demonstrative of his Scottish heritage.

Loftis explained the sheep dogs and his best friend by saying, “To be a sheep dog one must have a capacity for violence, but a strong love for your fellow man. Jeremiah was a man like that.”

Some of the traditions included: the draping of the American flag off of the casket, a 21-dove-salute, a last radio call where the dispatcher calls out his number and after no response utters the words “gone but not forgotten” and a 21-gun-salute.

The memorial also included a flyover where 10 helicopters flew over the San Bernardino mountains where MacKay was shot to death.

Yucaipa Sheriff Station officers escorted the slain officer’s body back to the mortuary where close friends and family held a private ceremony.